Why Not?

When was the last time you were truly afraid of something?

My husband and I just got back from an awesomesauce trip to St. Thomas. During our time there, a snorkeling excursion was scheduled and I gladly hesitantly went along. I’m not a big fan of getting wet or swimming, so snorkeling was kind of a no-go for me. Add to that the fact that I’m terrified of fish both large and small and you can understand why I went into the trip with a grand plan that included lounging, reading and sunbathing.

Before we boarded the boat, I had already informed my husband that I would joyfully watch him and the others snorkel, if I decided to move from my lounging, reading and sunbathing position. 

We sailed from St. Thomas to the calm, caribbean blue waters of St. John.  The boat anchored and the crew began handing out the snorkeling equipment and explaining some safety procedures. Most people on board were chatting amongst themselves and eagerly donning the snorkel gear. The views of the cliffs and reefs nearby were incredible and the water was a gorgeous blue even our camera couldn’t capture. After I assured my husband that I was fine with hanging back on the boat, he rode down the boat’s slide, arms in the air.

Once (most) everyone was in the water and off exploring, I told myself that I was perfectly content with being an observer. I stood on the deck, head raised to the sky, enjoying the glory of the warm sun combined with a cooling breeze on my skin. I watched as people explored the ocean depths in groups or alone, wondering what they were seeing. And slowly, my curiosity started to get the best of me. Maybe I was missing out on something really good? Did I want to be an observer or a participant?

I planted myself on a bench on the front of the boat and began lamenting to no-one in particular that I really wanted to snorkel, but I was terribly afraid. The nice solid bench on the boat was comforting and predictable. How could I venture into those waters not knowing what was in there? What if I saw a sting ray? Steve Irwin was an expert in his field yet died from close contact with a sting ray. What if I got too close to the black prickly sea urchins? Their poison-filled spines could make me sick and sore for days. What if I met up with an especially large fish and it could most likely swim faster than me?

My fears might sound irrational and to some silly, but at the time they kept me plastered to the bench. Yet there I was in the Carribbean, surrounded by the incredible beauty of God’s creations, with an expert crew there to support me. So after a little bit a lot of pacing, hand-wringing and pep talks, I decided to give it a go, with a few conditions of course. Condition #1- I wouldn’t “snorkel” per say, but I would go for a leisurely swim with goggles and a swim noodle. Condition #2- My husband would swim ahead of me and warn me of any “large fish” or potential danger. Condition #3- I could get out at any time and was allowed to scream like a girl because, I am one.

After sitting at the top of the slide for a while, I finally opted to slowly back down the steps and into the water. The water was warm and lovely. I peered through my goggles, checking out the sea life below and slowly made my way at a pace that suited me just fine, s-l-o-w. I will admit that my terror was not reduced much by the beauty around me but I did relax slightly and try to appreciate my surroundings. I floated about for a while until my husband took out his snorkel and said “I don’t mean to alarm you, but there is a very large fish right below you”. And that my friends, was the end of my adventure. I swam as hard and as fast as my arms and legs would take me and hastily boarded the boat.  

A few years back, as I was beginning to get myself well, physically, spiritually and emotionally, I decided that I wanted to be a WHY NOT person. I declared that if God placed a situation before me, I wouldn’t ask WHY, I would ask WHY NOT.  Easier said than done right? Yet for the most part I am proud to say that I am turning into a WHY NOT person. I have begun to view situations that are scary, challenging and new as blessings and gifts.

And I’m beginning to understand that just like the crew and equipment on the boat, God has equipped me with the talent, support and equipment for the task at hand, whatever that may be.

All I need to do is ask WHY NOT?

If there is something new you’ve been wanting to try or something overdue you’ve been meaning to face, there is no better time than now to dive in. If you’re like me, you’ll find that the worry was worse than the act itself. And you might surprise yourself and have fun along the way.

I want to be that person who slides into life feet first with my hands in the air. How about you?

Make the choice. Commit to the choice. Ask for help. Continue with courage.

Hugs and friendship,

Tara

WW Debunked

Have you ever been in a situation where you’re listening to someone talk and they’re…well…let’s just say…a tad ill-informed? You patiently listen as they blab on and on and on…

Wouldn’t it be awesome if just once it was socially acceptable to cut someone off in mid-conversation? Or if it was cool to roll your eyes and let out a huge sigh? 

It’s always interesting when you hear people discussing something you’re passionate about. With representation from folks like Charles Barkley, Jennifer Hudson and Jessica Simpson, Weight Watchers has been getting a lot of airtime, both on TV and in real life. A while back I was watching a daytime talk show (to go unnamed) and they were talking about Weight Watchers. It was fascinating to hear what they thought the program was about. Some of the hosts were on the money and knew a lot about the program and some made assumptions and generalizations that made me cringe.  When I’m chatting it up with people (and maybe they’re the ones rolling their eyes) about Weight Watchers, I’m really surprised about people’s impressions of the program. And while everyone is certainly entitled to their opinions, I thought I’d take a moment or two to debunk some of the things I’ve heard about the program, especially with the rollout of Weight Watchers 360. Plus, I’ve always wanted to use the word debunk, so here we go:

1) I can’t eat out. WW is designed so you can enjoy life while losing weight. On top of your daily points plus target, you get additional points plus allowance to use however you want and wherever you want. These additional points can be used on that mocha latte, drinks and appetizers at girl’s night out or for a special occasion. WW also provides tools for you to calculate the points plus values of restaurant foods, so you can make wise choices and plan accordingly. While I don’t eat out nearly as much as I used to, I eat out several times a week and I relish every tasty morsel.

2) Working the points plus system doesn’t teach me how to eat right.  This might be the most frustrating statement I hear about the program. WW has created a simplified process for calculating the value of food and has assigned points plus values to each food based on its fiber, fat, carbohydrate, protein and overall nutrition. And yes, things that are “not so healthy” such as baked goods and fried foods also have points plus values and are a part of this program. However, the very core of the program is made up of good health guidelines which are the daily recommended intake of lean proteins, fruits and vegetables, lowfat/nonfat dairy, whole grains and healthy fats. WW also emphasizes Power Foods that are high in nutrition, low in fat and make you feel fuller longer.  You will learn about making wise food choices, incorporating activity, along with behavior changes to revamp your spaces and routines.

3) I already know how to lose weight so I probably won’t learn anything new. I’ve been a WW member for 16 years and I STILL learn something new at almost every meeting. From new recipes, food substitution or preparation tips; to ways to evaluate my goals, behaviors and reinvent myself. I truly value the knowledge and support I receive from my WW leader, peers and materials.

4) I can’t afford it. For some who are financially strapped, I can appreciate your dilemma. I’ve been there, where I’ve had not one extra penny to spend, and yes there is a cost to the WW program. The program ranges in cost from $11 to $14 per week depending on your area and the plan you choose. Please consider the following when mulling over the cost of the program. Some insurance will reimburse you for the cost of the program once you reach goal. My insurance fully reimbursed me for the program and I used the money for smaller clothes. You might be spending $14 a week on lunch out with friends. Think about using that $14 for taking better care of you. Skip that lunch out with friends and take a walk with them instead. $14 is a minor cost for such an important investment- you!

5) I tried a meeting once and did NOT like it. Try again (please). I have been to a variety of meeting locations over the years; they all have their own vibe and attract different member audiences.  Every leader is different and what will appeal to some will not appeal to others.  Some leaders are serious, some no-nonsense, some funny and some hands-on.  Find a meeting location and leader that is right for you. Once you make that click with a leader and location, you will be on the fast track to a new you.

Now that I’ve told you what Weight Watchers is not, let me tell you what it is. Weight Watchers is a program designed for human nature. It’s been around for 50 years and is backed by member success and years of scientific research. It’s a program that will teach you how to make healthy food and lifestyle choices for life. It goes beyond the food to the behaviors behind and around the food.

I feel very blessed to be a part of the Weight Watchers organization, as a member and an employee. The program has changed and continues to change my life for the better.

I invite you to come along on a wellness journey with me. To learn more about WW click here.

Make the choice. Commit to the choice. Ask for help. Continue with courage.

Hugs and friendship,

Tara

Happy YOU Year

And so it begins, the barrage of commercials for fitness products and wellness plans that conveniently happen just as we are about to start the new year.  Their timing is impeccable. Most of us are walking around in bleary-eyed exhaustion from the whirlwind of the holidays. We’ve most likely overindulged in some way, maybe with our finances, food, alcohol…and then these commercials scream out to us they they’re here to save the day! To make us feel better, be better, look better, do better…and we are drawn to them like Pepé Le Pew to his one true love.

I’ve never been a big new year’s resolution kind of gal. Maybe because I’m a rebel and if everyone else is doing it, I don’t want to. Ok, well…I’m not much of a rebel… 

I like to think that I’m not a fan of new year’s resolutions because of the way they’re perceived, that resolutions are seen as temporary or fleeting.  Either way, I was curious about the resolution trend, so I Googled new year’s resolutions and thanks to Empoweredpres.com, found the top ten new year’s resolutions from 2011. In 2011, people vowed to:

10. Help people.

9. Spend more time with family.

8. Get out of debt.

7. Learn something new.

6. Organize yourself.

5. Quit drinking.

4. Enjoy life more.

3. Lose weight.

2. Get in shape.

1. Stop smoking.

All of these seem pretty productive and some downright necessary. So why the issue with new year’s resolutions? A resolution after all is nothing more than a declaration to make a change.

Maybe it’s really the post-resolution actions we have a problem with; the follow through that’s needed to make the change happen.

For those of you that are regular readers, you might have noticed that I close each blog post with the same words. Make the choice. Commit to the choice. Ask for help. Continue with courage.

2013 is right around the corner. What is ONE change you want to make in the coming year?

Make the choice to make a change. Give the change a voice. Write it down or vocalize your goal to a friend. It’s your life, it’s your choice.

Commit to the choice. Develop a plan of action to make the change happen. Write your plan down and share it with a friend. A very wise colleague of mine reminded me that if action is not taken within 30 days, it usually doesn’t happen. Don’t start next week or tomorrow, start today.

Ask for help. Those top 10 new year’s resolutions listed above, they are NO joke. As Rick Warren said, "we are made to get well in community with each other". You do not need to do this alone. Recruit a friend to come along on the change journey with you. This person should not just be your cheerleader, but someone who will keep it real with you at all times.  

Continue with courage.  This might be the hardest part. This is where you’ll need to dig deep. As we all know, change does not and will not happen overnight. It might take weeks, months or even years. Believe in yourself.  Believe that you’ve got it going on. Believe that you can do it.

Know that you’ve been given the desire, knowledge, talent, skills, determination and courage to make it happen. 

It's going to be a happy YOU year!

Make the choice. Commit to the choice. Ask for help. Continue with courage.

Hugs and friendship,

Tara

Mary Did You Know

Over the past week I’ve been deliberating on what I wanted to write about as we head into the New Year. I wanted it to express how blessed I feel in so many ways. I wanted to share how good it feels to be healthy and to ask others to join me.  I wanted to send a call to action to be well, not just physically, but emotionally and spiritually. Yet I wasn’t sure how to start and what to say.

Before my blogging days, I just liked to write. I’d write little stories and poems and I’d share those words with folks who I thought needed them. This was back before the days of social media so I’d use something called e-mail to reach out to people. I wrote the story below when our daughter experienced a traumatic gymnastics injury, went through a few surgeries and a year of physical therapy. I wrote it at Children’s Hospital (CHOP) as I was surrounded by children who were far more ill than our daughter.

While sitting at CHOP waiting for Ashlee to come out of surgery, I was seated directly in front of a small wheelchair. It was obviously a customized wheelchair that got a lot of use.

The name Mary was embroidered in pink thread on back of the chair. A Cinderella backpack hung from the side of the wheelchair.

And I sat and waited, staring at the chair.

I looked at how small the wheelchair was and the oxygen canister that was hooked to the chair. I looked at the straps that held the child in and imagined that she had no body control. The chair had brackets to hold her wobbly head in place.

I watched her parents sit and wait.

And I sat and waited, staring at Mary’s chair.

I thought about Mary’s family. What pain they must have endured, what life lessons did they learn?

And I thought about my family. How privileged we are.  Ashlee’s injury is a minor life inconvenience. Will it be hard?  Yes.  Am I tired- yes? But it’s just an arm, and it’s just temporary.

What lessons would we learn from this?

Would we appreciate each day?

Would we see life as a gift?

Would we live in each moment with each other?

Or would we go back to our self-centered ways?

Irritated by traffic…dramatic about work… agitated about finances…frantic about schedules…vain in our appearances… troubled by relationships.

Would we ever think about Mary again? Her adorable little wheelchair with the pink lettering and the Cinderella backpack.

I’ll bet that the most basic pleasures in life would bring Mary joy- to be able to speak, walk, eat, think and breathe on her own.

And at that moment it all connected with me- Mary…Mary…Mary…

Was there another Mary who long ago sacrificed her son for me?

If this son died for my very life…was I living each day in His joy?

Was I living for His pleasure or for mine?

What or who is your joy today?

I never met Mary’s family, nor did I ever get to see Mary. We left the waiting room before Mary came out of surgery. I’ll never forget how I felt that day at CHOP.  I suddenly realized that living a life of joy is not only mine for the taking, it’s mine for the making. I was reminded that with every obstacle that comes my way, I have the choice to make the best of it.  

Are you making the most out of what has been given to you?

What or who is your joy today? Let's work together to find that joy and to share it with others in the New Year!

Make the choice. Commit to the choice. Ask for help. Continue with courage.

Hugs and friendship,

Tara

Explosion of Joy

Isn’t it amazing how something or someone comes into your life just when you need it most? Whether it’s a special friend or family member that shows up at just the right time, a song lyric that strikes a chord, words in a book that speak to your heart or maybe a message from a TV show or movie.

This past weekend, I was watching Super Soul Sunday on OWN and they featured a video short by Soul Pancake called Heart Attack. If you have 3 minutes to spare, click here.

Soul Pancake set up a button on a busy boardwalk that said “Need some love? Push here!” 

Some people didn’t even notice the button and kept going about their day. Some slowed down, giving a curious glimpse, even back tracking to look at it again, but they didn’t press the button. Those who pressed the button, well, they got quite the surprise. They received an explosion of joy! A compartment opened up and out came people dressed up as hearts, holding balloons, shooting streamers and saying I LOVE YOU. Watch the video, it’s bound to make you smile and who doesn’t need a little stress relief this time of year. The reactions of those who pressed the button are priceless. I love the manly man who was being circled by hearts dancing around him. He’s got a huge grin on his face and has his hands in the air, just celebrating being celebrated.

When was the last time you were loved like that? Or the last time you showed someone love like that?

Have you ever given yourself permission to love yourself like that?  To celebrate who you are.

Seeing the joy-filled faces of perfect strangers in the video reminded me of how important it is to slow down, especially this time of year, to take the time to give and receive love. And to make time to take care of yourself, so that you can be your best you.    

In a few days, millions of people around the world with gather with family and friends to celebrate the great gift of love from our Creator.  A love that was sent to this earth to fill us with hope, peace, joy and life everlasting. I can’t help but imagine that when we receive the gift of love from our Creator, it’s like pushing that red button that says “Need some love? Push here!”  

When we push that red button, the heavens explode with joy. And just like the manly man in that video, we are circled by hearts dancing around us. And our Creator, He’s got a huge grin on his face and has his hands in the air celebrating us, for exactly who we are, for exactly who He created us to be.

I wish you and your loved ones a holiday season filled with unexpected explosions of joy!

And look forward to sharing another year of good health, happiness and wellness with you!

Make the choice. Commit to the choice. Ask for help. Continue with courage.

Hugs and friendship,

Tara

The Bystander

We’ve all heard the saying “eyes are the window to the soul”, but how about “eyes are the mirror of the heart?” One of my favorite things about being a Weight Watcher’s leader is being able to connect with people from all walks of life. Before, during and after the meetings, I do my best to ensure that members feel valued, heard and well cared for. And although I’m using my ears to listen to their stories of triumph and struggle, I’m using my eyes to peek into their hearts.

When I look into certain members eyes, I see my own heart. Not my heart now, but my heart as it was when I was in so much pain, cloaked in darkness.  I see people who are tired. Not just physically tired, but emotionally tired. Tired of struggling to lose weight; asking if the effort is really worth the sacrifice. I see people who are lost. They look in the mirror and don’t even recognize the face staring back at them. They self-loathe and berate, wondering how they let themselves go, not just in gaining weight but in losing track of life. They’ve spent days, months, maybe even years looking from the outside in. They’ve become a bystander in their own lives.

Yet in others I see light. I see men and women who are filled with hope. People who have joined together to celebrate this thing we call life. Side by side they reach important milestones- losing 5% of their weight, 10% of their weight, reaching GOAL and becoming a Lifetime Member.  They celebrate the non-scale victories just as whole-heartedly as they do the weight loss victories. Those non-scale victories are what help them to leave their bystander days behind. 

They start living again: Taking risks. Trying new things. Facing trials head on.

They are brave and courageous. 

They are filled with peace, gratitude and joy.

Do you want to be a bystander in your own life? Or do you want to: 

Take risks. Try new things. Face trials head on.

Life might seem dark to you right now, but remember you can’t experience light without darkness. Hope always overcomes despair.

It’s your time to shine.

Make the choice. Commit to the choice. Ask for help. Continue with courage.

Hugs and friendship,

Tara

Begin Again

For those of you who have been at this weight loss gig for a long time, I wonder what you find more challenging- the actual weight loss or long term maintenance?

Having been on both sides of the fence, I find they’re both equally challenging. Losing and maintaining require the same amounts of commitment, endurance, planning, focus, perseverance and a positive outlook.   

For me, losing the weight slowly and maintaining for the long term has required an ongoing reinvention of myself.  

“People have forgotten how to tell a story. Stories don't have a middle or an end anymore. They usually have a beginning that never stops beginning”.  ~Steven Spielberg

Good point Mr. Spielberg, or can I call you Steven?  Yet I kind of like the idea of a beginning that never stops beginning. Isn’t that what wellness is? Diets have beginnings and endings. Being healthy and fit for life is a beginning that never stops beginning.

Too many times I’ve watched people go on a hard core diet and most times they lose successfully. But they are so starved and deprived in the end that six months later the weight (and then some) has come back. I’ve not only watched people repeat this cycle, I’ve done it myself.

If you are losing weight currently, or have a goal to lose weight in the new year, I challenge you to take a look at your weight loss approach.  Make sure your goals are S.M.A.R.T.

·         Specific

·         Measurable

·         Achievable

·         Realistic/Relevant

·         Time bound

Replace the word “diet” with being well, getting fit or achieving good health.  

Remember that the changes you make should be maintainable for life.  

Overall wellness is a beginning that never stops beginning.  At the company I work for, when we were designing our strategic plan last year, we boiled the actions down to “how can we get better"? 

What can you do right now (not tomorrow- right NOW) to start getting better? Every day is the perfect time to begin again.

Make the choice. Commit to the choice. Ask for help. Continue with courage.

Hugs and friendship,

Tara